Fast Frank
Member
I have recently acquired a Winchester 1200 pump 12 gauge.
It's apparently from 1969 or 1970 (Records aren't complete from that era, it's a guess based of average production per year) and it was unfired when I took possession.
This thing is literally brand new, with a few small handling marks collected over the years.
It has a full choke vent rib barrel.
I'm wondering a few things about threading for chokes.
Question #1- If I do spring for threading and buy some choke tubes, will it make this old girl suitable for steel shot?
Question#2- Is shortening the barrel required? It's long now and I'm OK with that, but it seems like every time I have seen talk about threading it also seems to involve cutting the barrel shorter. Is that to get to a thicker portion of the barrel that will take the chokes or just personal preference?
Question #3- Would you do it? It's a fine piece, and it shoots real nice the way it is now, but that full choke makes a small shot pattern on the trap range. I'm thinking a more open pattern might be more fun. Normally, this is where everybody suggest buying another barrel but I don't see as many choices for this old gun and I don't think they ever came threaded for chokes back in the day.
I don't think it has a bunch of collector value and I really would like to just use it.
Anybody got any input for me?
It's apparently from 1969 or 1970 (Records aren't complete from that era, it's a guess based of average production per year) and it was unfired when I took possession.
This thing is literally brand new, with a few small handling marks collected over the years.
It has a full choke vent rib barrel.
I'm wondering a few things about threading for chokes.
Question #1- If I do spring for threading and buy some choke tubes, will it make this old girl suitable for steel shot?
Question#2- Is shortening the barrel required? It's long now and I'm OK with that, but it seems like every time I have seen talk about threading it also seems to involve cutting the barrel shorter. Is that to get to a thicker portion of the barrel that will take the chokes or just personal preference?
Question #3- Would you do it? It's a fine piece, and it shoots real nice the way it is now, but that full choke makes a small shot pattern on the trap range. I'm thinking a more open pattern might be more fun. Normally, this is where everybody suggest buying another barrel but I don't see as many choices for this old gun and I don't think they ever came threaded for chokes back in the day.
I don't think it has a bunch of collector value and I really would like to just use it.
Anybody got any input for me?